GC Golf Season Preview

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia
College golf program and head coach Jimmy Wilson
look to mix the new with the old this season. The Bobcats return
eight, while adding four newcomers to the roster.

“We graduated four All-Americans over the past two
seasons,” said Wilson. “We are much younger this year
but definitely not inexperienced. The guys we have coming back have
all been there before and they are guys that will carry the
torch.”

The ‘Cats come into the season with a streak of 14
straight NCAA National Tournament appearances on the line as they
look towards this fall season.

“I don’t see our streak of National Tournament
appearances coming to an end,” said Wilson. “I have
plenty of confidence in this group of guys.”

Senior

The Bobcats only have one senior on the roster this season.
Jeff Rives (Atlanta) is returning as a walk-on
after a three year hiatus. Rives played as a freshman for the
Bobcats but parted ways after his rookie season. Rives played in
two tournaments including the Kiawah Island Invitational his
freshman year, finishing plus-13, tied for 52nd
place.

Juniors

The Bobcats return three juniors to the squad. Bernardo
Bide (Olavaria, Argentina) looks to make contributions to
the Bobcats golf program this season. In 2010-11 he competed in
three events, including a low-round of 71 at the Spring Hill Suites
Invitational, where he finished tied for 11th.
“Bide has as much talent as anyone on this squad and we are
looking for him to make a solid contribution this season,”
said Wilson.

Patrick Garrett (Kennesaw, Ga.) is a red-shirt
junior looking to lead the Bobcats after taking First Team
All-Peach Belt Conference honors last season and grabbing an
individual victory at Valdosta State.

Taylor Smith (Mansfield, Ga.) competed in five
events last season with a 75.2 stroke average. “Taylor has 10
or 12 tournaments under his belt,” said Wilson. “We are
really looking for him to step up this season.”

Smith qualified for the United State Amateur Public Links
Championship after winning the U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifier,
shooting a 69 and 68 on the 6,830-yard, par-72 course.

Sophomore

The ‘Cats return three golfers and one transfer.
Pontus Andersson (Helsingborg, Sweden) is in his
first season because of NCAA ineligibility reasons his freshman
year. Bryan Fox (Roswell, Ga.) is a transfer from
Division I Georgia State University. He qualified in the fifth spot
for the Kiawah Island Invitational. Fox participated in one
tournament for the Panthers, recording a low-round effort of
69.

Victor Monte (Chantilly, Va.) qualified in the
fourth spot for the first tournament of the season. Gavin
Harper (Twin City, Ga.) was Second Team All-Conference as
a red-shirt freshman and looks to compete for the No. 1 spot on the
team in 2011-12.

Freshman

The Bobcats bring in four freshman, two red shirts and two
newcomers. Josh Klipstein (Norcross, Ga.) is
looking to compete as a freshman. “Josh is going to push the
others to become better players,” said Wilson.

David Sullivan (Woodstock, Ga.) looks to make a
splash this season. “David had a great summer in the amateur
events and he’s ready to play,” said Wilson. Red shirt
Ryan Trocchio (Norcross, Ga.) was injured last
year but qualified in the three slot to start this young season.
Tyler Tucker (Cochran, Ga.) is also a red shirt
and looks to follow in the footsteps of Cochran native, Joe
Young.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, back-to-back
winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic
programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program,
Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the
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